The month of October is dedicated to the universal Church, its mission and the world’s largest solidarity campaign. This year, Universal Mission Month focuses on the parable of the wedding feast and solidarity with Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This year’s fundraising campaign focuses on the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the second largest country in Africa and home to the largest number of Catholics on the continent. More than 100 million people, including 45 million Catholics, live in a territory 56 times the size of Switzerland. This multi-ethnic state gained independence from Belgium in 1960 and was called Zaire until 1997.
The world focuses on the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, while the suffering of the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo is largely ignored’, says Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele of Goma, in the east of the country. Since November 2022, the North Kivu region has been the scene of repeated armed conflicts between rebel groups and the Congolese army. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and are living in camps in deplorable conditions.
One of these camps is located 12 km north of Goma, in Kanyaruchinya. Around 150,000 people are living there, often eight to a tent measuring 4 x 2 metres. Hygiene conditions are precarious, drinking water is in short supply and firewood is scarce. Overcrowding, crime, sexual violence and prostitution are daily challenges.
The parish of Sainte-Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus in Kanyaruchinya has been supporting war orphans in the camp for two years. It has developed a project offering psychological and educational support to traumatised children aged between four and twelve. Missio Switzerland is supporting this project. Further information is available on the website: www.missio.ch.